FCm questions code sharing on the Tasman
A proposed code share arrangement between Qantas and Air New Zealand could mean increased costs for business travellers and less flight availability according to leading corporate travel management company, FCm Travel Solutions.
The business travel management company has questioned the proposed move suggesting it could reduce choices for business travellers.
FCm Travel Solutions general manager David Burns says business travellers will be the ones who will hurt the most with the introduction of code sharing.
“A code-share arrangement may have less effect on the price of airfares for leisure travellers with airlines such as Emirates and Pacific Blue still providing competition across the Tasman,” he said.
“For business travellers with less flexibility, code-sharing may eventually mean price increases at peak business travelling times, such as early morning and early evening, when it is largely only Qantas and Air New Zealand covering a particular route.”
The airlines, which together control about 80 percent of the trans-Tasman market, are reportedly close to an agreement on share reservation codes, allowing them to sell seats on each other’s plane.
Mr Burns also said it was highly likely that availability on flights during the peak times may also be negatively affected, with the airlines dropping the number of flights on key routes to rationalise capacity.
“Corporate travellers will most likely be forced to board flights that have high fare costs and more constraints making business travel more difficult,” he said.
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